"Only in France, the burkini is not allowed but you can kiss a woman's breast on national TV," wrote another.

The French government's Superior Council of Audiovisual, which manages the country's television regulation, said it had received over 250 complaints about the episode. That number was expected to have risen.

It added that it had launched an investigation into the matter.

For her part, the woman who was kissed took to Facebook on Friday to post a picture of herself with the panelist in question, with text defending his actions.

"Stop having a go at this man, he is very respectable and doesn't deserve any punishment despite his masculine impulses," she wrote.

She has said she will not be pressing charges

France and indeed the world are at a time of heightened awareness of sexual assault and sexual harassment, not least after comments from US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who recently came under fire for his words about women.

"Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything," said Trump in words that caused outrage around the world.